Conan Gray’s tribute to teenage angst, ‘Kid Krow’
By Lily Langstaff, The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science
April 7, 2020
In case you weren’t around in the indie pop scene in Nov. 2018, 19-year-old Conan Gray debuted his first EP, “Sunset Season.” Flash forward to March 2020, and Conan, now 21, just released his first full-length studio album, “Kid Krow.” From his YouTube beginning, Conan has had an incredible...
Donald Glover Transcends Pop With New Album “3.15.20”
By Logan Roach, Middleton High School - WI
April 7, 2020
After four years of anticipation from fans, Donald Glover, a.k.a. Childish Gambino has released his fourth studio album “3.15.20” on March 22, 2020. Following his last album “Awaken, My Love” which featured the hit single “Redbone,” Gambino abstracts himself even further from the top 40 pop...
Was “Self Made” the story of a black hero or another political agenda?
By Cameron Thomas, The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science
April 3, 2020
To me, black history is an endless story of resilience--telling, no matter how far we are set back, we will always find a way to overcome. To the makers of "Self Made," however, black history is an endless fight among self. Though this may be true to an extent, using the over-sensationalization of the...
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness has taken over Netflix
By Jaiman White, Baldwin High School - PA
April 1, 2020
In the craziness that has become the self-quarantine state of stopping the spread of the coronavirus, Netflix has released the docu-series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, which has showcased crazy on a whole different level. The documentary focuses on the small but connected community of big...
‘Future Nostalgia’ is seamless combination of old and new
By Anthony Cesario, Coppell High School
March 31, 2020
With the release of Future Nostalgia on Friday, Dua Lipa has done a full 180 on the term “sophomore slump” and created one of the best pop albums of the last decade. Far surpassing the quality of her 2017 self-titled debut album, Future Nostalgia lives up perfectly to its title by recalling the glor...
Megan Thee Stallion give her fans a sweet treat with the release of ‘Suga’
By Violet Jira, The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science
March 30, 2020
Hot Girl Summer isn’t here yet, but new music from Megan Thee Stallion is! Nearly a year after the Houston rapper graced us with her first full-length project “Fever,” Megan has blessed us yet again, this time, with her album “Suga.” While this album was, by and large, very different from h...
Childish Gambino returns with mysterious album “3.15.20”
By Jack Ging, Lia Reichmann, Editor-in-Chief, and Saba Ali, Editor-in-Chief
March 30, 2020
On March 15, Donald Glover (also known as Childish Gambino) held a surprise premiere of his newest full-length album by streaming it repeatedly throughout the day on donaldgloverpresents.com. The following weekend on March 22, the album was officially released on all streaming services as “3.15.20” with...
‘Kid Krow’ offers a poignant look into Gen Z adolescence
By Anna Feng, Carlmont High School
March 25, 2020
What do you get when you cross Lorde's melancholy with The 1975's sound and Taylor Swift's songwriting skills? Why, Conan Gray, of course. Gray's newest album, "Kid Krow," captures both the intense highs and lows of adolescence, from having unrequited crushes to losing bonds with best friends. It...
Out Of His “Idle Town”: Review of Conan Gray’s “The Comfort Crowd Tour”
By Taila Lee, Woodside High School - CA
March 24, 2020
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA— Sad, soulful, and sassy, YouTuber-turned-pop-star Conan Gray is a rising king of dream pop with his down-to-earth lyrics, comforting voice, and growing fanbase. Gray took the world by storm with his debut EP “Sunset Season” at age 20, and his poignant performance at the...
Harley Quinn dismantles the patriarchy with ‘Birds of Prey: The Album’.
By Mason Montano, Pinole Valley High School
March 18, 2020
Following the success of American superhero film Suicide Squad in mid-2016, DC announced a spin-off centered around the character Harley Quinn, titled Birds of Prey, which was released in mid-February and sees Quinn assembling a team of female supervillains after finding herself in the face of dange...
Overcoming ‘Brain Pain’
By Rachel Laposka, Starr's Mill High School
March 16, 2020
Melodic hardcore is a genre not many people are familiar with by name. Deriving from skate punk, the genre incorporates sounds from punk rock and hardcore punk, blending harsh and gritty vocals with melodic guitar riffs. Bands like Avenged Sevenfold and Killswitch Engaged set the bar for the broad genre...
‘American Dirt’ book whitewashes experience of Mexican immigrants
By Jacqueline Barba, Downers Grove South High School
March 16, 2020
“American Dirt,” written by Jeanine Cummins proves that writing about experiences you can only imagine is never the foundation for good writing. The novel tells the story of Lydia and Luca, the wife and child of a murdered journalist from Mexico, as they attempt to cross the border to the U.S. Described...
Miss Anthropocene by Grimes – Review
By James Martini, Jesuit High School
March 13, 2020
In February of this year, Canadian artist Grimes released her fifth studio album, Miss Anthropocene, her first release since her 2015 album Art Angels. Her latest release features heavy, electronic sounds and dark, morbid lyrics and imagery to criticize the way people have abandoned their values in favor...
Can I steal for you a sec?
By Bella Grumet, Walt Whitman High School
March 12, 2020
When I asked my parents if I could watch “The Bachelor” during my freshman year, their answer was an immediate and definitive no. They believed the show promoted promiscuity and toxic masculinity; they wanted to shelter me from that kind of negative influence. Little did they know, I didn't need...
A Better Place
By Julia Poppa, North Allegheny Senior High School
March 12, 2020
I’ve had my fair share of existential crises: nights spent in bed staring at the ceiling wondering about the significance of my life and contemplating some of life’s most notorious unanswered questions. But what I have realized is that our biggest questions do not lie within the size of the universe...
EXCLUSIVE: That Kid spills the tea on his upcoming debut mixtape, ‘Crush’.
By Mason Montano, Pinole Valley High School
March 11, 2020
Last week, American singer-songwriter and hyper pop star That Kid officially announced his upcoming debut mixtape, Crush. The reveal was met with much excitement from the underground pop community, who had been looking forward to the project ever since he began teasing it late last year, and over the we...
Tame Impala returns with serendipitous “The Slow Rush”
By Riya Mehta and Amrita Himmatraopet
March 11, 2020
On Feb. 14, psychedelic rock musician Kevin Parker, more famously known as Tame Impala, released his fourth studio album “The Slow Rush.” Mysterious and echoey, the album begins with a fast beat and ominous tone on “One More Year.” Parker talks about living life to the fullest without any...
Jake Germain is the next best thing: A breakdown of his singles era.
By Mason Montano, Pinole Valley High School
March 5, 2020
Known for his Queer heartbreak anthems and extensive use of autotune for vocal effect, American singer-songwriter and producer Jake Germain’s career began when he uploaded his debut single, “Lonely Nights”, to SoundCloud in September 2016. He later gained some notoriety on the underground pop...
All this music must fade: modern albums of classic rock artists
By Owen Cummings, Walnut Hills High School
March 5, 2020
Music can be easy to forget. There’s so much of it out there that it’s impossible to listen to and certainly keep track of. Every artist has their high points, low points, a beginning and an ending. Some careers are long lasting, and some are over in a day. But those who have been lucky enough to...
Outta This World
By Kristen Kinzler, North Allegheny Senior High School
March 4, 2020
Some cowboys, a few aliens, one nostalgic love story, and a thrilling murder mystery. This may sound like something that resembles a bad joke, but it’s also a pretty accurate description of Roswell, New Mexico-- a show that may, quite literally, have it all. Roswell was originally a TV show tha...
Review: The Book Of Gutsy Women inspires readers
By Melissa May, Fossil Ridge High School
March 3, 2020
The Book Of Gutsy Women, written by Hillary Rodham Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea Clinton, was published on October 1, 2019, and it is a timely piece of literature revolving around the timeless social issue of feminism. The book is filled with more than one hundred stories of resilient and courag...
‘Honey Boy’ ain’t so sweet: Shia LaBeouf’s flawed return to Hollywood
By Ella Kitt, Flintridge Sacred Heart
March 3, 2020
“They’ve got cameras everywhere, you dummy! I’ve got more millionaire lawyers than you know what to do with!” yells a man from the backseat of a police car. An officer outside of the car calmly flips through a pile of papers. The man continues to scream. Many know him as Stanley from “Holes”...
When They See Us: Story of the incarceration of innocent boys
By Alishba Javaid, Coppell High School
March 2, 2020
After casually scrolling through Netflix and deciding to watch a new show recommended to me, I did not expect to become an emotional wreck the next day after binge watching it. The four-part limited series, “When They See Us”, debuted on May 31 on Netflix. The Emmy award-winning show is based ...
Nice While It Lasted
By Brooke Huffman, Wentzville Liberty High School
February 28, 2020
(Spoilers Ahead) In 2014, Netflix introduced the world to Bojack Horseman - an anthropomorphic alcoholic horse, weighed down by his own self-loathing - and on Jan. 31, he said his final goodbyes. This tragicomedy surrounding Bojack and his quirky cast of friends brings nuance to the adult animation...
Xenophobia in the music industry
By Zara Iqbal and Claire Yang
February 27, 2020
They broke Taylor Swift’s record for the most viewed YouTube video in 24 hours. They’re the first group since The Beatles to have three Billboard No. 1’s within one year. They’ve garnered the most Twitter engagement ever recorded on the platform, exceeding Harry Styles’ record. In 2019 alone,...
“Bedroom pop”- the young artists changing the music industry, and Generation Z, through self-production
By Evelyn Sampsell-Jones, St. Paul Academy and Summit School
February 26, 2020
People find magic in music because they are able to relate to it. This is the reason why different genres come into prominence as times change- the Silent generation (born 1925-1945) loved big band and jazz. Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) witnessed the beginnings of rock and the heydays of genres like...
Halsey unveils her inner mind in album “Manic”
By Lauren Chen and Harshita Neralla
February 26, 2020
Releasing her third studio album “Manic” on Jan. 17, Halsey reverts to her hollowed vocals and rebellious lyrics, finding creative solace within her own life and focusing on the person behind her persona: 25-year-old New Jersey native Ashley Frangipane. Incorporating concepts from her imagination,...
BTS Inspires and Dominates the World with Mature and Artistic New Album
By Laura Renfroe, Pelahatchie High School
February 25, 2020
The chart-topping, charismatic, and all-time biggest boy band in the world right now just released their new album, and it has thrown the whole continent in a frenzy of euphoria and Spotify-streaming. The record-crashing South Korean boy group BTS continues to stir the world and showcase their incredible...
Despite immense global impact, BTS doesn’t receive the recognition they deserve
By Caleb Stipkovits, Minneapolis South High School
February 25, 2020
International sensation BTS just dropped a new album, Map of the Soul: 7. The album, according to Forbes, sold over 4 million copies in preorders, and the total sales number has been increasing since its release on February 21st, 2020. The success of BTS is undeniable, but something feels like i...
The revival of nu-metal
By Rachel Laposka, Starr's Mill High School
February 24, 2020
Nu-metal is a genre that some argue died back in the mid-2000s as various bands began to hop on the bandwagon. Many of these bands over-produced albums claiming to fall into the metal subgenre, leading to the inevitable decline of nu-metal. The genre was booming from the late ‘90s to about 2000, following...
Look at This!
By Julia Poppa, North Allegheny Senior High School
February 24, 2020
Réka Götz is not your average, run-of-the-mill high school art student. While many of NASH’s students who study art are full of talent and aspiration, there may be none more talented than Götz. Götz is an 11th grader at NASH with a passion for visual art. She has achieved what most artists only...
Arnoldus: Why Angie Thomas’ New Book is “On the Come Up!”
By Linda Arnoldus, The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science
February 21, 2020
Angie Thomas has done it again. Her debut novel, “The Hate U Give,” became a #1 New York Times Bestseller, touching the hearts of many with its lovable characters and politically relevant commentary about the prevalence of police brutality in the African American community. “The Hate U Give” wa...
Once on This Island tour docks in Houston
By Arrington Linder, Clear Creek High School
February 21, 2020
After closing on Broadway in early 2019, Once on This Island embarked on a national tour in October later that year. As a part of their 2019-2020 season, Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) is housing the Once on This Island National Tour until March 1. The musical begins with the storytellers setting the stage...
‘High Road’: Kesha reclaims her spirit on fourth album
By Anna Drabik, Londonderry High School
February 21, 2020
Kesha’s career has been a long, winding path up a certainly steep mountain. From 2010’s party girl phase (Animal and Cannibal) to her raw, soul-bearing third album, titled Rainbow, Kesha has consistently delivered in all her musical endeavors, even with a troubled personal life. 2020’s High Road continues ...
Mercy in the Face of Injustice
By Maleah Downton, Notre Dame de Sion
February 20, 2020
“Mercy is just when it is rooted in hopefulness and freely given,” activist lawyer Bryan Stevenson wrote in his New York Times Bestselling memoir “Just Mercy.” Adapted to film by director Destin Daniel Cretton, “Just Mercy,” premiered Dec. 25, portrays one man’s resilient fight for justice...
Review: Tame Impala perfects his style in The Slow Rush
By Melissa May, Fossil Ridge High School
February 19, 2020
On Friday, February 14, Kevin Parker, better known as Tame Impala, released his fourth and newest album, entitled The Slow Rush. The album was his first since the release of his third album in 2015, Currents, and it immediately became apparent upon listening that he had a clear cut idea before even begi...
Sorry Scorsese, Marvel movies are cinema
By Rohan Dewan, Richard Montgomery High School - MD
February 17, 2020
The cinema has been an integral component of American society since the year 1895, when prolific inventor Thomas Edison developed the world’s first Kinetoscope, thus enabling the creation of the movie theater. His invention ushered in a new field of entertainment that would displace radio shows and...
‘P.S. I Still Love You,’ a Valentine’s Day classic
By Kate McElhinney, The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science
February 14, 2020
As someone who watched “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” four times within the first week of its release in August of 2018 and has watched it at least 60 times since then, it would be an understatement to say I was thrilled when “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” was announced. Needless...
Independent women rise in ‘Suicide Squad’ spin off ‘Birds of Prey’
By Shannon Sullivan, Daniel Pearl Magnet High School
February 14, 2020
“Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” can be easily summarized by it’s gratuitous violence and neon colors. It’s a film of high energy and low substance. The newest installment to the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), “Birds of Prey” continues the story of ...
‘Parasite’ Latches on to Audience Despite Language Barrier
By Yunoo Kim, WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - Austin
February 14, 2020
Praise for Director Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite (2019) has swarmed the movie industry, still growing as the film sweeps awards across multiple platforms. Despite being entirely in Korean, it received the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and went on to take Best Foreign Language Film awards at bot...
Back again: the return of MCR
By Lily Langstaff, The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science
February 13, 2020
What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘emo?’ Dyed hair, the color black, band tees, and Converse? My Chemical Romance? Emo has changed over the decades from a music genre to, for some people, a lifestyle. In the 2000’s, it was a popular style, (in some opinions) but was replaced with more alternative...
Tame Impala album slowly approaching
By Rose Wright, Plano Senior High School
February 13, 2020
Australian psychedelic singer Tame Impala’s new album The Slow Rush begins its exciting journey to release on Feb. 14, featuring their latest four singles “Lost In Yesterday,” “Posthumous Forgiveness,” “It Might Be Time,” and “Borderline.” Listeners can all breathe a collective sigh...
‘Father of all’ Green Day albums
By Rachel Laposka, Starr's Mill High School
February 13, 2020
Green Day made a name for themselves in the 1990s, taking over the charts with their catchy punk rock songs that served as an anthem for teens growing up in the early 2000s. One might think that the band has lost their relevance in the near thirty years they have been a band, but Green Day still remains...
Selfie factories
By Ayah Ali-Ahmad, Monta Vista High School
February 13, 2020
Overstuffed, small rooms lead to the next, with young attendees posing toward cameras, large, colorful sculptures flowing throughout and samples of ice cream flavors given around every corner. For $38, junior Sophia Chen and her friends toured the Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco, which serves both...
American Dirt Lacks the True Migrant Experience
By Karen Portillo, Santaluces High School
February 12, 2020
The release of Jeanine Cummins' novel, American Dirt, has prompted a nationwide controversy. The book is about a Mexican mother and her son fleeing to America after their family members were killed by a drug cartel. Despite the important issues the book focuses on, the criticism is centered on how a...
Breaking barriers
By Anvitha Reddy, Coppell High School
February 11, 2020
From the nerd with the unattractive accent to the object of every joke, Indian Americans have consistently been marginalized in film and media. The lack of representation in protagonist roles causes a constant barrier between what South Asians experience growing up and what is portrayed to be “normal”...
2019-2020 Fashion Trends
By Maria Cima and Kendel Barber
February 11, 2020
The 2019-20 school year has brought fashion trends unique to the 21st century and some resurrected from the 1960s. With trends from snakeskin to seashell necklaces, the halls of NASH are full of interesting styles that just might last through the new year. Tops Fall and winter weather have proven to be q...
Latin boyband’s newest single is anything but cliché
By Jordan Owens, Starr's Mill High School
February 10, 2020
CNCO members Richard Camacho, Erick Brian Colón, Zabdiel De Jesús, Joel Pimentel, and Christopher Vélez released their latest single about a week ago and it has already left a tremendous staple for their brand. For boybands being brought together on a competition show gives people the chance to...
Opinion: Writers, filmmakers must exercise caution with portrayals of sexual assault
By Pramika Kadari, Coppell High School
February 7, 2020
**Disclaimer: the following article includes discussions about sexual assault, which may be sensitive to some readers. The following story is part of a Sidekick package about feminism. “I’m always in that house, I’m always in that room; I can’t get out,” Alyssa from “The End of The...
‘Just Mercy’ provides accurate depiction of fight against wrong convictions
By Elias Podber, Henry W. Grady High School
February 6, 2020
Recently, I was lucky enough to see "Just Mercy" at Midtown Art Cinemas on a school field trip. The movie follows real-life Harvard Law School graduate Bryan Stevenson, played by Michael B. Jordan, as he moves to Alabama with federal funds to set up a public defense system called the Equal Justice Initiative....